//------------------------------// // Part 1: awakening. Chapter 1: In the Frozen North* // Story: I will kill you yet, Discord! // by IMN //------------------------------// Daring Do was having a pretty bad week. First, she learned that Ahuizotl was after some very ancient and very powerful Discordian relic. It was something called the Azazel’s Scythe, and it had lain dormant deep in the confines of Frozen North for millennia. Then, after going through what she easily described as the most dangerous temple she had ever been in, she was captured right before getting in the chamber. Why did she even bother to get out of bed in the morning these days? Now, tied up with Ahuizotl’s minions all around, she observed as Ahuizotl laughed maniacally at a glowing crystal spire, her whip at his hip. This would make for a great story, if I can get out of here alive to write it, she thought before turning to the spire itself. Daring had seen many artifacts and some of them emitted energy in a cool glowing manner, but this isn't one of those artifacts, the spire's faint ice blue glow appeared like a candle light through a magnifying glass and yet it appears dead, frozen much like the wasteland surrounding it. Its shape is something akin to a crystal tree coiling up all the way to the ceiling. If this spire was to break, the entire temple would collapse on... however her thought were rudely interrupted by yet another irksome laugh. “You know, I could do without the laughter, Ahui,” Daring Do had just had enough, “I have better things to do than to listen to you giggling like a geisha all day.” “Like taking care of inconvenient traps for me?” he quipped, “Thank you for that, by the way. You were a great help for once.” “You always needed it.” “Ouch. Tough talk for someone at my mercy. Besides, if I’m so stupid, how have I managed to not only snare the great Daring Do, but stand poised to obtain the greatest weapon ever forged: Azazel, the Spectral Scythe.” “Do your research, bozo! Azazel’s not a scythe, it’s a pony.” “That’s what they want you to believe.” “Here comes the crazy talk again.” “I found a tablet a while back describing a scythe that consumes the magical abilities of nearby creatures. With power like that, I could conquer not only Equestria, but the entire world!” That notion made Daring Do laugh. “Mad rambling and cliché line aside, I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but that thing is inside a crystal spire, doofus. How are you going to get it out? A toothpick?” Ahuizotl grinned his villainous cheeky grin, “I hoped you would ask. you see I..." “Like to write erotic fanfiction about us?” “What? No! Shut up! Anyway… Where was I? Ah, yes. How I was going to get the scythe…” And with that, he pulled out his chosen tool. The very sight of it made Daring tremble a bit. “Are you insane?! That’s King Sombra’s horn! Do you have any idea how dangerous it is?” “Oh, I do. As soon as I discovered this, it led me to so many amazing discoveries, secrets so old that time itself has forgotten, and places where power swells like a twister, and even to weapons of mass destruction. Judging from how many dark secrets it holds, I’d say it is dangerous enough for my purposes.” He held the horn up high before placing it on his head. Almost immediately, the horn stuck fast, sending a shockwave that traveled from his body to dissipate in the air around him. Purple smoke started to gently trail from his closed eyes, which he opened to reveal a green glow. Daring Do knew this couldn’t end well for anypony. She struggled with all her might, even as the transformation took place. She needed to stop him. She needed to stop this. She had to do something. She... What could she do? And even if she could do something, did it even matter? Azazel isn’t a scythe, it’s a pony, right? A pegasus, an ancient king from the time before Discord came to rule. So what if they find him? How much damage could a dead pony do? … Don’t answer that. “All this power! I can feel it! ” Ahuizotl chucked in ecstasy as a rush of dark magic surged through his body like wild fire, fueling him with strength he thought he could never have. The possibilities of this new found power were limitless that the thought of Daring Do ever stopping him again became inconceivable. “Now, to business.” Dark energy built up in his new horn with such intensity that even the least magically oriented earth ponies could have felt it deep in their bones. He turned toward the spire and fired a stream of greenish black magic at it, All the while his minions were cheering at him like monkeys on a tree. Daring Do found a small reprieve, slipped out of her ropes, and lunged toward Ahuizotl for her preferred weapon. Whip now firmly in hoof, Daring Do jumped toward Ahuizotl in an attempt for a tackle, only to be knocked back by a sudden shockwave just as the crystal spire's glow came to life. Much to the surprise of the Aztec monster and his goons, and to the dread of the adventurer, a shadow of a pegasus holding a scythe suddenly appeared amid the bright light. Daring Do could only stare in fear at the weapon and its wielder, it's smooth edges projected an aura so ominous, it made death look inviting. It's blade so sharp that it seemed to be able to cut the shadow it's coming from. Linked to it was a chain warping around the pegasus like orbits surrounding a core, so unique were its placement and movements that it appeared like a snake ready to fend off anything that comes in its range. The pony holding the scythe didn't look normal either, even from the shadows, Daring could tell he is huge. His frozen stance spoke of a warrior with unrivaled potential, he wielded his weapon with such precision and balance that Daring Do's own expertise failed to distinguish if it's in defense or in offense. Ahuizotl continued to pour power into the crystal, frantically drilling to his goal, while Daring froze. “Something’s not right here!” commented one of the goons. “Yeah! There shouldn’t be anypony with the scythe!” chorused another. “Shut up, all of you! That Scythe will be mine!” Ahuizotl focused, intent on destroying the crystal spire to get what he wanted. In response, the chains started to rotate. Slowly at first, but picking up speed, rattling resonated seemingly out of nowhere, it's sound increasing until it felt like chainsaw proud. Ahuizotl could only gasp as the motion picked up by the pegasus started to unfold slowly while mimicking the chain's pace. The scythe's blade soared with tremendous power and slammed the spire from within. And then, with a resounding thwack, everything went black.